Another Bush unitedization! Najaf Shiites meet to form own country

[Bluebear]

http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=98304&Sn=WORL&IssueID=27262

NAJAF: About 600 leaders from central Iraq's Shi'ite Muslim provinces announced plans to begin setting up their own autonomous region, following a meeting yesterday in Najaf.

Representatives agreed to set up a security committee for their five provinces and a regional council to stimulate the economy of their neglected region.

Iraq's provisional constitution recognises the federal nature of Iraq, most of whose Kurdish population lives in three northern provinces with a large degree of autonomy.

Participants of the Najaf meeting underlined the importance of holding elections, and backed Shi'ite leaders' rejection to delay the vote.